Starter testing apparatus



July 27, l948 H. L.. BENNETT STARTER TESTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1944 l l y Bnventor Lez m/n/ Eyye/f .4' www.

l attorney July 27, 1943- H. L.. BENNETT y2,446,039 STARTER TESTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 27, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Ittomeg July 27, 1948. H. L. BENNETT STARTER TESTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 27, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y Snnentor m/Q/ e/ *./Z 762// A www Cttorneg Patented July 27, 1948 STARTER TESTING APPARATUS Harold L. Bennett, South Bend, Ind., assignor'to Bennett-Feragen, Inc., SouthlBend, Ind.;fa corporation of` Washington Application November 27, 1944, SerialNo. 565,3,118`

13 claims. (c1. 7f3- 118) This invention relates to` testing apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for measuring the torque developed by an airplane engine starter.`

The starter `to be tested by the present apparatuscomprises an electric motor supplied with current `from storage batteries or other source and designed to, be connectedithrough a clutch with the crank shaft of the airplane engine. 1t is necessary that the electric motor of, such a starterldevelop sufficient torque to` rotate the airpiane engine when the same is cold. It furthermore necessary that the clutch be so acljusteol that it vvill. transmit suiiicicnttorque to rotate the engine, While releasing or slipping. upon the imposition yof any overload, such as would occur if the engine were incapacitated because of a broken timing gear, or because of the presence of lliquid in the cylinders, or for any. other reason. Under any of the circumstances just mentioned, `it is necessary that the clutch be so adjusted that it `Will slip and `tlius prevent excess ive torque from being transmitted to the engine crank shaft, which would cause damage to 4the engine. A

The present invention aims to provide a testing apparatus which Will `measure and register the maximum torque `delivered; `by the tester., and tlius enable adjustments `to `be made to bring the maximum torque within certain tolerance limits. Ii the maximum torque delivered by the starter is "too great, the clutch may be adjusted tadecrease lthe mariimum ntorque -Itransmissible there by. Iuf the maximum `torque is too low, the fault may be either with the electric motor or its bat-H teries, `or Witlo` tire clutch, and the remedy may consist in repairing or replacinglthe motor, increasing the current supplied to` they motor, ror in tightening the clutch to enable it to transmita higher maximum torque.

An `object of the present invention is to provide a testing apparatus ,suitable for use with airplane engine starters, and which sli-all be sinne ple yto operate and economical to rmanniacture.

A further object of the invention is toi-provide ay starter tester wherein friction. of the moving Paris. is minimizedby the use elf Reife-edele bearings andloxthcr t ictionless ytypes of bearings.'

A further @metri the intention Genesis in the lprovision .of `a series of leversconnccted to eachother Vin series, thereby 1eliifninating the yuse of eigcessively :long levers andinaiingpossible e Gemeen arrangement of *the iei A furtner object ci tneinventionis to .provide a `Stevie* @eine @retraits whilh is so. simil@ *is operaties that it t@ @vente by @se lieues no special training, the operation'b fil to a series of simple-'mechanical 'stepsl A further objectief the" invention Yis to ip'rokvide a starter'ite'stingapparatus wherein ,iap

ral'ity of startersmaybesuccessivelyfniount'ed the apparatus, tested, and disrnounted, allWith i a minimum Qpf @en er: one were@ if ne tion Will operator'.

A turtherobjectof the invention is to `provide improved, torque measuring' apparatus fhaving indicating means n'" zjd when Pane' torque being measured "exceeds "or "f alls' 'belovif a Apre termin-gd rang' Further objects and advantages of the invenbe apparent from tHe'fr'J'Xllovu/irie'- eta' d description cons" Y ered conri'ection`vvithtli'-al companying drawings,` subijnitited for" purposes oilT illustration only and not "intended to ienne thescope of the invention,'refer`nce`being' had In the drawings, wherein" 'similar "re'ierence characters refer to siniilfarparts 'throughout'tle several views: Fig. i is aside eivaupn, paruylin section, p'ffa @anestesia Ikemr,Ginn ihefpresnririvar [Fie 2 is a; front eleva@ ppi me scalen'eams associated mechanism, orrespondin'gftdia' taken Q11 the. 1in, fz'of'fsfli 3 is a' iioizontalsectidnal view oftliesamc, tkll. ill@ lineart?! IFH- 2f? r y 4` u Fig. Yi isa` front elefvatioriiof thle'starterr stand, corresponding to Va View' taien on lfir'ieffl" "4 i Ifis 1.2 biitWiih "Parisi gren @Way "99' reveal, il?? interior construction;

hFig'.' 5 is a sectional detail view taken Qnftheiine 5-,' 5 OfFg-'Z Eig. 6 'is a' .dei il, view taken. Qn the lin@ 5ft, :oir ngtrans 'f i Eis. 71s a further Sectional. detail View Peli?? Qa ineinifioreieafl Before @Xplafi its Yin detail the, present une:

tion it is tothe ulisierswpdieeiilit ilfiftilii@ 'is not limited in its application to .the details "Qi Construction and a ligament Qf parte iiluS-- trates-1n .the accom the, inventions canabl'of other erribsfiime 0i beine bratied. or earned cutis various were Also itis to bie undertspodttbat "the phraseolgsy or terminology employed herein is ior the purpose 0f deSQTiniiQn-@niinoi ,Qilimiieiim Referring to the drawings, the 'testing appara-` tus comprises a piatforfm'ip mounted uponsup .ports `l2 of any suitable type. The platform' Iii supports `a pair of 'horizontal 'slide rods o rf ils lli," l5 by means Dif bra0i lfl! which emp ng reduced having spaced legs 26, 21, connected by a cross` piece 28. The legs terminate in semi-cylindrical bearing sleeves which, in conjunction with similar sleeves formed on a lower-cross-piece 29 at the base of the frame, form the slide bearings 39, 3|. The cross-piece 29 is secured to the frame 24 by means of clamping bolts 32. The arrange-` ment is such that the bearings 30, 3| are normally slidable upon the rods I4, I5, but a slight space 34 is provided between the cross-piece 28 and the cross-piece 29, both of which have suffi cient flexibility to permit them to be forced into proximity with each other, by means described hereinafter, so as to tighten the bearings 30, 3| and thereby prevent sliding movement thereof upon the rods I4, |5.

The upper portion 23 of frame 24 is provided with a circular aperture 36 (Fig. 1), within which is rotatably mounted an annular bracket 38, which may be built up of concentric annular plates, secured together by means of bolts 39. The bracket 3,8 4is provided with spaced threaded holes for the reception of stud boltsAo which pass through the flange 4| of the starter 2I, whereby the starter may be securely butrotatably mounted upon the stand for testing. The starter is connected to a source of electrical energy through lead `wires 49.

At its lower portion, the bracket 38 is provided with a downwardly projecting arm 42, formed with spaced projections 43, 44 separated by a spacing block 4 5 having pivot pins 46, 41 extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof. The arm 42 is movable between fixed stops 35, 31 formed on vthe forward surface of frame 24. A locking lever 48 is bifurcated at its upper end and is provided with slots 5|).which receive the pivot pins 46, 41. The lower end f lever 48 is likewise bifurcated and is pivoted to` spaced lugs upon cross-piece 28 by means of a pivot pin 52. vSlpaced laterally Afrom pin 52 is a second pin 53 by which a locking bolt 54 is pivotally secured to thelocking lever. The bolt 54 extends downwardly through central apertures in cross-pieces 28,:29, and terminates in .an adjustable head 56 positioned in a recess in the lower surf-ace of cross-piece 29. It will be seen that upon rota tion of locking lever 48 in the clockwise direction as` viewed in Fig. 4, the cross-pieces 28, 29 will be exed toward each other, causing thebearings 30, 3| to clamp the slide rods I4, I5 and prevent movement therebetween, thereby locking the stand against forwardv and rearward` movementv relative to the slide rods.

The apparatus for actuating 4locking lever 48 comprises a horizontal threaded rod 53 having anunthre-aded portion journaled in a bearing 59 in leg 21, and manually actuated by a crank l6|). Thev rod 58 threadedly engages in .an aperture in block 45, so that upon rotation of the crank 60 the lever 48 may be moved in the clockwise or counterclockwise'direction, while the bracket 38 and starter 2| will be rotated in the opposite direction. Rotation of the lever 69 in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig.,1 will therefore release the stand 20 to permit it t0 be 4 slid forwardly of rods I4, l5, and will also rotate the starter 2! in the clockwise direction to facilitate its disengagement from the torque registering apparatus.

The registering apparatus comprises a vertical frame made up of front and rear plates 62, 63, secured by any convenient meanssuch as bolts 64 to spaced flanges 65 formed upon the platform I9, and secured together in spaced relation by means by spacing bolts 6|. The front plate 62 A,forms an instrument panel, and its upper portion |56 isV backwardly inclined, as shown, to facilitate the reading of the indicators located thereon. Positioned centrally of the plates 62,

63 is a bearing block 61, held in position by bolts 68, yand provided with an'tiefriction bearings 463 forming a journal for the tester shaft lil.

lShaft 19 is provided at its forward end with an enlarged portion 1l, which is provided with radial dogs 13 to permit it to engage the similarly formed shaft 'l2 of the starter. The built-in clutch which forms a part of the starter `2| is not specically shown in the drawings, but is housed' in the starter casing and connects the electric motor .at the forward portion of the starter with the shaft 12, in the known manner. The shaft 12 is provided with radial dogs 11 which are shaped and adapted to engage the` correspondingly shaped end of a shaft connected directly or indirectly to the crank shaft of an airplane motor.

The portion 1I of the tester shaft 19 must there` fore be correspondingly formed in order that it may be engaged by shaft lzand rotatedthereby' in the ccunterclockwise direction.

Fixed to shaft 19 is a scale beam 14 which ex` tends horizontally therefrom and has its free end connected by a rod 115 with the short end of a second scale beam 16. The rod 15 is connected to the beams 14 and 'i6 by means of Vdogs 18, 19 which have a knife-edge engagement with correspondingly formed notches in the beams.

The free end of beam 15 is connected tothe short end of a third scale beam 66 by means of a rod BI, engaging the beams in knife edge relation through dogs a2, 93, Ain a manner similar toA that described in connection with rod '115.

tus, the dog s2 is made' adjustable along the rod 8| as best seen in Figure 5; also a compression spring 84 is mounted beneath the freeend of beam 16 encircling the rod 8|, while la stud 86 is adjustably mounted beneath the spring by means of a bolt 81 projecting through a vertical slot 88 in plate 63 and threaded in a horizontal bore in the stud. The forward end'of the stud is provided with a vertical aperture 89 which freely receives the rod 8| is slidable relation, and supports a washer 9i) thereon which engages the spring 84. By this means, the pressure of spring 84 tending to rotate beam 16 in the counterclockwise direction' may be varied at will. The manner in which this apparatus is utilized to adjust the torque registering apparatus is described hereinafter.

The free end of beam is connected by means of a rod 92 and dogs 93, 94 to the short end of the registering beam 96. The beams 16, 80 and 96 are pivoted by means of frictionless bearings of the type shown in Fig. 6, comprising a fixed stud 91 extending between the forward and rearward plates, and provided with frictionless bearings 98 of any suitable known construction. The corresponding bearings for levers 80 and 96 are indicated at 99 and |00. It will be noted that the center of gravity of beam 96 lies below and Y toffthe irig'ht of.` its :bearing |00, fsofithat mechanicallenergyfisfrequiredl to irotate it inf the'counterclockwise direction. i

aperture, which may be calibrated inany-suit-i able units, v"such 'was lfoot-pounds. .In 'the illustra'te'ci `'-e`rbodimerit, a calibration l mark 'fl 26 corresponds to fthelower limitoftolerancegwhile a second calibration Amark |21 corresponds't'o-the against rotation. vThe *forward end of fthe-"bolt rotatedito 2bring the sleeve into frictional engagement *with the forward rsurface 'of weight |112 toflock the' weight fini position. Whenrotated ini-the Aopposite direction, the "Sleeve k` |06-"1"ele'as =;s the Weight for 'sliding movement, while the head |0f"|f"fo`rms fa convenient handle for i use "in F sliding theifweight. i

A "xfree 1end *of beam `'96 v"has mounted `thereon by meansofi-a1 bracket "|`|)8,a mov-able switch velemerit |"09, the 'free end'iof Vwhich `is prbvided'with oppositielydisposed electricalvcontacts. 'The other-fend df element "|09 is connected by means of afexibleconductorl |50 to a source ofel'eotrical current indicat'edby'theA binding postl |f`l. 'spaced iixedf'contac'ts b| |3, Ifflllfare positioned'above and below lthe "contact *points of the f switch f element |09 in such relation thatlin thefoperationof the apparatus "the element |19 Will, up'on the "applicationV of ian excessive amount oi ftorqueto shaft 10g-Koome tinto 'contact vwith contact 3, .'where'as ratus 2'2.

A starter to-be tested islthen mounted .upon

1ow,the-1ement |09 -will contact 'the Contact "I M. Within lan appreciable range oi torque valuesl the element t'-1119 willremain atan intermediateposition,"such as that shown in Fig. 2, whereinfitcontats neither fof "the lcontacts il I3, `||f4.

=Co`ritact 4|l"3 is connected, through am'et'alli'c immediately back l"of 1an aperture in the portion B'Eroftplate 612. The aperture contains 'a'fl'ens which lpermits ythe 'light from lamp |"6 to pas's therethrough, and l`whichmay be of -a `distinctive color, such as red, to signify that-excess toque isbeing registered fby the machine.

-"Ihe Contact I"`I'l 4 is Connected, through fal'r'letalJ licstip |2f3'fanda "leadl'llSyto asecon'd pilotlam'p IZll'wihichis similarly locatedadjacent an aperture in thel'panel, Aandcontains Sa'le'ns i |2'|, which may Ibe o'f "a clor 1' such i as green, to y'indicate `1that the ftorque beingfregistered is below standard. Stripsf22, |"23"1a-re secured by an insulatingfblock |'2'41tothe platelet, `'and the 1amps '|"l6, f2`o are grounded in an-ysuita'ble manner, so thatupon the'weight: `|112 moved to the-left' along the.` beam 96 A-untiliindicator l||l|l iregistersfwith the calibration iniark |26,` corresponding V'to the --lower tolerance limit of the torque developed-by the starter tovbe tested "Theswitch element f|"09 should'th'enlipositibntself lightly in Contact "with Similarly, `when `the indicator '|04` contact yI t3.` y is fmoved into `registry With-'the calibration? mark |21, *corresponding to the `upper tolerance VLlir'iiit of i the itorque tof be measured, the element il |19.

should position 'itself llightly inY contactv `withioone tact H4. These conditions having been brought about by suitable adjustment of dog 82 anidlstiid 86,'the weight |'|l2.is movedtoapositionmdway between'marks f|26 and |21, as shown in Fig. 3,in which position'the element v|09 ytwill.

position itself midway between-thecontacts'H3 and'llll.

In `order tofprepare' the apparatusffor testing'a starter, the 'crank B--isrotatedin the counter-` clockwise direction as -viewed "in Fig; r1 4until the arm'42 isbroughtinto contact withistop'sS.` This relieves the'tension on the lockingbolt 54,and permits thestand 20 to be `moved forwardly'out of; operative `relation to the -registering'fappathestand by `means of the bolts 40, `and fthestahd is `movedrearwardly along rods `Hl, I5 untilfthe shaft -lZiof `the starterengages portion fll Vof. the shaftl. The operator then rotates the crank 6|l in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig.w1, while'icontinuing to .press the stand rearwardly, `until the arm 421 is brought into contact with or into ,proximitytd the stop3'l, thusrotating the starter through an angle of approximately llOl-degrees. 'At -this point, the locking-lever 48 Wilhhave brought cross-pieces 28, 29 into engagement, thereby locking 'the stand `against sliding movement, while fat the same time the dogs 'l1 upon shaft '|2 and dogs 13 upon shaft 10 willhave been brought into registering engagement; or

ifit khappens that they were in registering en-` gagement `at the beginningrof the operation, the `only result -will be that Ithe shaft 'l2 will remain stationary while the remainderfof the starter-vis main` infcontactwith Athe contact I-Ill,` with thel result ythat :current `will Y-iiovv through 'conductor lili@ tto `lainfp #29, causing aigreen light to `appear at =|2|. If-,fon theother hand, the torque trans-` liinitsforithe lstarter, theswitch element |09 W'illA movefinto contact With-the Contact nIQIILand current will Fow `through 'the vconductor |0, elelamp Y|='|6, ycausing fa `red light to appear at i H1. If `ino light` appears `on Vthe dial, ythat `fact apprisesv the yoperator Lthat the-torqueis Within the tolerance limits. `'.Ehefoperatorthen makes a notationbf vthe `result :of ithe test, disconnects the current-to Elead wires 49, and rotates the `crank Bil in thecounterclockwise direction vas viewed in` Fig.` 1, 'thereby disengaging Ather-dogs `'I3 and TVI,` andre'leasing `the ystand L2|'l tto-permititto bemoved` 7l forwardly. kThe bolts 40 are thereuponremoved, the tested starter removed from' the stand, a new starter mounted upon the stand, andthe opera' tion is repeated. v

Although the `invention-has been described with reference to a' particular embodiment thereof, it isnot limited to such embodiment, but may be embodied in other formswithin the limitsof the skill `of artisans in this art. The invention is therefore not to be considered as limited except in accordance-with the terms of the following claims.

`I claim: I

-l. Apparatus fortesting the torque developed byl an airplane engine starter having a shaft adaptedto "releasably-engage and rotate an element associated with the engine,` comprising a` torque indicator having a member shaped to be releasably 'engaged by said shaft, means supporting said starter for slidable movement into and out'of operative relation to said member, manually'operablemeans for rotatingsaid starter and shaft to bring the shaft into operative engage-1 relative'to said member, Iand' means for lockingv said supporting means against said movement.

3. Apparatus for testing the torque developed by` an engine starter having a shaft adapted to releasably engage and rotate an element associated with the engine, comprising a torque indicator having Va member shaped to be releasably engaged by said shaft to receive torque therefrom, means supporting said starter for rotation about its own axis and for sliding movement into and out of operative relation to said member, means for locking the supporting means against sliding movement, and common manual means for rotating said starter and shaft to index the shaft relative to said member and for actuating said locking means.

4. Apparatus for measuring the torque devel-v oped by an engine starter having a shaft adapted to releasably engage an element associated withthe engine, comprising a torque indicator including a coupling member shaped to be releasably engaged by said shaft, a stand having a rotatable member adapted to support said starter for movement about its own axis, means for'supporting said stand for slidable movement to move said starter into and out of operative relation to said coupling member, means for locking said supporting means against such slidable movement, and means for rotating said rotatable member to index the starter shaft relative to said coupling member, said rotating means being simultaneously operative to actuate said locking means.

5. Apparatus for measuring the torque developed by an engine starter having a shaft, comprising a torque indicator having a coupling member adapted to be engaged by said shaft and having a scale beam operatively lconnected to said coupling member, electric' indicating means associated with said indicator and energized only when ythe torque transmitted to the'indicator exceeds or IVfalls 1 below au `predetermined* range; means supportingsaid starter forarotation aboutits own axis and for slidable movement into and out Vof operative relation to` said coupling member, means forwlocking saidv supporting;',means against such slidable movement, `and -means` forrotating said starter to index the same relative to said coupling member, said rotating means being simultaneously operative to actuate said locke ing means. v

fApparatus for measuring the-torque developed by an electrical engine starter, comprising a torqueV indicator having av coupling member.

adaptedt'o be engagedby said starter, and means for supporting said starter for movement into and out of operative relation to said coupling member,*said means comprising spaced hori-y zontal sliderails, and a stand slidable onjsaid slide rails and having flexible members embracfl ing the same, means Ifor flexing said flexible members to cause them to grip the slide rails andi prevent movement of. the stand relative thereto;- said stand includ-ing astarter receiving membery rotatably supported `by the stand` in alignment with said coupling member, and means for, simultaneously rotating said starter, receiving member and actuating said flexing means. i

'1. Apparatus for measuring the torque devel oped by an engine starter having an axial-shaft, comprising arpair of spaced horizontal rails,.a

star-ter support movable along said rails, rotat.

able means carried by said. support for support?.

ing a starter for angular rotation albout its ofwn.

axis, torque indicating meansengageable b'ythe starter shaft when said support is in a prede-Y termined angular position, and means` simul taneously operative to rotate said rotatable :means and to lock said support against move-Vv ment relative to said rails. Y

8. Apparatus for measuring -the torquedeveloped by an engine starter having an axialy shaft,`

comprising a' torque indicator adaptedto be engaged by said shaft` and to register the torque transmitted thereby, a stand for the starter, a rail supporting the stand. for movement thereof 9. In apparatus for -measuring the torque,v

developed by an engine starter having a shaft adapted to releasably engage an element associ-vV ated with the engine, a torque'indicator havinga membershaped to be releasablyengaged by;

said shaft, means for supporting said starter for movement into and out of` operative relation toV said'member, manually operable means forl rotating said starter and shaft` to index the shaft relative to said member, means for locking said sup- A porting means against said movement, and common meansfor actuating. said rotating meansv and said locking means. v

10. Apparatus for measuring the torquey developed by a motor `having a shaft,l comprisingA a coupling member shaped to be engaged by said shaft, a torque indicator connected to said-v coupling member to register vthe torqueexerted thereon by said motor, means for supporting the motor for rotation about; its own axis and for l 9 slidable movementl into and out of operative engagement with said coupling member, and manual means for rotating said motor to index the same relative to said coupling member, said manual means being operative lto simultaneously lock said supporting means to prevent said slidable and rotary movements.

11. The invention defined in claim 10, wherein the supporting means includes a slide and spaced exible members forming a bearing slidable thereon, and the manual means includes means for deforming said exible members into nonslidable relation tov the slide.

12. The invention defined in claim 10, wherein the supporting means includes a pair of parallel rails and spaced flexible members forming bearings slidable on said rails, and the manual means includes means for preventing rotation of the starter about its own axis and means for deforming said nexible members to clamp said bearings 4into non-slidable relation to said rails.

13. Apparatus for measuring the torque developed by a motor having a shaft, comprising a coupling member adapted .to have actuating engagement with the shaft, a torque indicator associated with said coupling member to register the torque exerted thereon .by the shaft, a stand, flexible bearing members for the stand mounting it for sliding movement into and out of operative engagement With said coupling member, said 10 stand having a rotary receiving member for sup'- porting the motor for rotation about its own axis, a screw engaging the receiving member for rotating the motor to index said shaft relative to said coupling member, said screw being operative to deform said liexible bearing members `to clamp the bearings into 'inoperative condition.

HAROLD L. BENNETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,205,448 Hallbleib Nov. 21, 1916 1,310,396 Haskins July 15, 1919 1,424,357 Hem Aug. 1, 1922 1,685,789 Thomas Oct. 2, 1928 1,872,420 Iongh Aug. 16, 1932` `2,279,698 Weokerly Apr. 14, 1942 2,355,254 Yeasting Aug. 8, 1944` 2,381,549 Mabery Aug. 7, 1945 2,401,907 Cahill et al June 11, 1946 2,405,060 Scoeld June 30, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 522,556 Great Britain June 20, 1940 

